poetry · Issue No. 3, March 1950 · p. 21

Beautiful Poetry: I Love You...

Amin Nakhle

الشعر الجميل - أُحِبُّكِ... · أمين نخله

I love you in despair and in longing,
as though I had become part of you, and you of me.

I love you beyond what my ribs can hold,
beyond my hand's reach and the farthest bound of my fancy —

a love swaying loose-limbed and free
upon the untroubled plain of youth.

I will speak it, then — for every gust of wind
is talk of you in this world, and of me.

I will speak it, then — do the grapevines know
that you are my cups and my wine-jar?

Morning will spread us over the hills,
over the valley, over the singing trees.

I swear by the name of your mouth above my cup,
and sip it as though it were you, or I.

Upon the tender string I cast off my longing,
and my passion surged in the singer's sigh;

into the deep melody I walk toward you,
keeping close along the supple string.

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